![US and Tajik delegations June 15 in Dushanbe discuss the state of and more prospects for co-operation between their countries. [Tajik presidential website]](/cnmi_ca/images/2022/06/20/35856-tj_president-739_416.webp)
DUSHANBE -- US Central Command (CENTCOM)'s new commander conferred on security with leaders in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan this month.
Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla on Wednesday (June 15) in Dushanbe met with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to discuss US-Tajik security matters, according to a statement on Rahmon's official site.
The US and Tajik delegations considered the possible expansion of US-Tajik ties, especially in military and security matters.
They also discussed the regional and global situations, the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and other trans-national crime.
![A Tajik service member assumes a defensive position during the multi-national Exercise Regional Co-operation 2017 July 17, 2017, in Fakhrabad, Tajikistan. US CENTCOM service members trained with colleagues from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Mongolia and with observers from Kazakhstan. [US Air Force Staff Sgt. Michael Battles]](/cnmi_ca/images/2022/06/20/35865-tj_soldier-739_416.webp)
A Tajik service member assumes a defensive position during the multi-national Exercise Regional Co-operation 2017 July 17, 2017, in Fakhrabad, Tajikistan. US CENTCOM service members trained with colleagues from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Mongolia and with observers from Kazakhstan. [US Air Force Staff Sgt. Michael Battles]
The statement disclosed no other details of the talks.
Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan
The Tajik talks came after Kurilla completed discussions in two other post-Soviet states, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
Kurilla last Tuesday met in Tashkent with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and high-ranking Uzbek military officials.
"These were important, high-level discussions regarding the major topics of concern for both militaries," Kurilla said in a statement posted by the US embassy in Tashkent.
Those topics included "lessons learned from our combat experience earned over a 20-year period"; the threat of violent ideology; the "ticking time bomb" of the al-Hol camp for "Islamic State" (IS) detainees in Syria; and ways to strengthen co-operation of US and Uzbek special forces, he said.
Kurilla also held security talks in Nur-Sultan on June 11 with Kazakh Defence Minister Ruslan Zhaksylykov, according to a CENTCOM statement.
They "discussed mutual security concerns and opportunities to expand defense co-operation in the Central Asian region", CENTCOM said.
"Security talks in Nur-Sultan with Kazakh Defence Minister" - we can hope Kazakhstan will get substantial assistance because one can expect anything with neighbours like Russia and China.
Reply2 Comment(s)
Negotiations aside, when will the ultimate result be? After all negotiations, NATO has to deploy forces in that region to protect civilians. "The US and Tajik delegations considered the possible expansion of US-Tajik ties, especially in military and security matters." Fingers crossed it'll help.
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